V. I. Lenin

Wireless Message

Sent:9 November, 1917First Published:InRobochy I
      SoldatNo. 20, 9 November, 1917.Source:Lenin’sCollected
      Works, Progress Publishers, Moscow, Volume 26, 1972,
      pp. 312-313Translated:Yuri Sdobnikov and George
      Hanna, Edited by George HannaTranscription & HTML Markup:Charles
      Farrell and David WaltersOnline Version:Lenin Internet ArchiveNovember,
    2000

To All Regimental, Divisional, Corps, Army,and Other
      Committees, to all Soldiers of the Revolutionary,Army and
      Sailors of the Revolutionary Navy[1]

On the night of November 7 the Council of People’s
      Commissars sent a wireless message to Commander-in-Chief
      Dukhonin ordering him immediately and formally to propose an
      armistice to all the belligerent countries, both Allied and
      those hostile to us.

This message was received at Field Headquarters on November 8 at
      5.05 am. Dukhonin was ordered to keep the Council of
      People’s Commissars constantly informed of the progress of
      the negotiations and to sign the armistice agreement only after
      it had been approved by the Council of People’s
      Commissars. Simultaneously, a similar proposal to conclude an
      armistice was formally submitted to all the plenipotentiary
      representatives of the Allied countries in Petrograd.

Not having received a reply from Dukhonin by the evening of
      November 8, the Council of People’s Commissars empowered
      Lenin, Stalin and Krylenko to ascertain the causes of the delay
      from Dukhonin over the direct line.

The conversation lasted from 2 a.m. to 4.30 a.m. on November
      9. Dukhonin made numerous attempts to evade, giving an
      explanation of his conduct and a precise reply to the orders of
      the government, but when Dukhonin was given a categorical order
      to enter immediately into formal negotiations for an armistice,
      he refused to obey. Thereupon, in the name of the Government of
      the Russian Repub]ic, on behalf of the Council of People’s
      Commissars, Dukhonin was informed that he was dismissed from his
      post for refusing to obey government orders and for conduct that
      entailed untold hardships for the working people of all
      countries and
      especially for the armies. At the same time, Dukhonin was
      ordered to continue his duties pending the arrival of a new
      Commander-in-Chief or a person empowered by the latter to take
      over from Dukhonin. Ensign Krylenk has been appointed the new
      Commander-in-Chief.

Soldiers, the cause of peace is in your hands! Do not allow
      the counter-revolutionary generals to frustrate the great cause
      of peace, place them under guard in order to avert acts of
      summary justice unworthy of a revolutionary army and to prevent
      these generals from escaping the trial that awaits
      them. Maintain the strictest revolutionary and military order.

Let the regiments at the front immediately elect representatives
      to start formal negotiations for an armistice with the enemy.

The Council of People’s Commissars authorises you to do
      this.

Do everything possible to keep us informed of every step in the
      negotiations. The Council of People’s Commissars 15 alone
      authorised to sign the final armistice agreement.

Soldiers, the cause of peace is in your hands! Maintain
      vigilance, restraint and energy, and the cause of peace will
      triumph!

In the name of the Government of the Russian Republic

V.	Ulyanov (Lenin),Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars

N.	Krylenko,People’s Commissar for War and
      Commander-in-Chief

[1]The Soviet Government's call on the soldiers to take the initiative in
      the armistice negotiations met with broad response in the
      army. On various sectors divisions, corps and armies, and even
      entire fronts (e.g., the Western Front) sent envoys across the
      line and concluded cease-fire agreements, which provided for a
      stop to military operations, reinforcements, construction of
      military installations, etc. These so-called soldiers' peace
      treaties" remained in force until the conclusion of a general
      armistice.